A congressional baseball game interrupted
by the deranged violence of a gunman.
Violent political protest cannot be tolerated,
yet in our society, gun violence too often is.

The Senate changes the rules of the game
to use unprecedented, undemocratic secrecy
to push a disastrous health care repeal
disregarding Senate protocol, American democracy,
and tens of millions whose health care is at stake.

Trump’s team weighs firing the special counsel,
Sessions is defiant about his own deceit,
and daily headlines make obstruction of justice
a new common feature in American politics.

It sure was nicer when baseball --
and also democracy -- were America’s pastime,
instead of violence, secrecy, watching angry tweets,
and unrelenting attacks on the Constitution.

Raise a glass to baseball and democracy,
to victims of yesterday's shooting
and to victims of gun violence everywhere,
as well as to those who defend our Constitution
at your local progressive social club.

Trump brings his hypocrisy around the world,
while his team undermines democracy at home,
with each new revelation about Sessions, Flynn,
and the thickening web of lies and obstruction.

After months of the rightwing conservatives
demonizing journalists and praising aggression,
a Montana Republican candidate assaults a reporter.

These guys may call themselves “the right.”
But from there policies to their personas,
there’s something about them that just ain’t right.

From the heartbreaking attack in Manchester
to the violence in Syria to the refugee crisis,
to dangers and threats here at home,
we could use answers, not antics,
and right headed solutions, not rightwing pollution.

So share your reactions, prepare to tack action,
make a new relation, share a libation
at your local progressive social club.